FR3054533A1 - TRANSFER AND SPACING MODULE FOR TABLE HANDLING MACHINE AND DEVICE INCORPORATING SAID MODULE - Google Patents

Abstract

The object of the invention is a module for transferring and spacing (14) products, especially pharmaceutical tablets C, interposed between a supply of said products having a linear velocity V1, in particular a track (12) of a bowl. centrifuge (10), and a conveyor belt (16-1) of a conveyor belt (16) moving at a linear speed V2 V2 being greater than V1, characterized in that said transfer and spacing module ( 14) comprises a shoe (26) with a depression D exerted on the products and a conveyor belt (18) of said products subjected to this vacuum, this conveyor belt (18) being movable in translation at a linear speed V3, the speed linear V3 being substantially equal to V2.

Description

(57) The object of the invention is a module for transferring and spacing (14) products, in particular pharmaceutical tablets C, interposed between a supply of said products having a linear speed V1, in particular a track (12) d '' a centrifugal bowl (10), and a conveyor belt (16-1) of a belt conveyor (16) moving at a linear speed V2 V2 being greater than V1, characterized in that said transfer module and d spacing (14) comprises a shoe (26) with a depression D exerted on the products and a conveyor belt (18) of said products subjected to this depression, this conveyor belt (18) being movable in translation at a linear speed V3 , the linear speed V3 being substantially equal to V2.

TRANSFER AND SPACING MODULE FOR A HANDLING MACHINE

TABLETS AND DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME

The present invention relates to a transfer and spacing module for a tablet handling machine, in particular for pharmaceutical tablets.

The present invention also relates to a sorting device incorporating such a transfer and spacing module.

Sorting devices for pharmaceutical tablets or products of the same type have extremely high working rates, of the order of several hundred thousand tablets per hour.

The pharmaceutical tablets are taken as a nonlimiting example in the present description, because they are of a great variety of geometric shapes, weight and / or nature.

These tablets must generally be transferred from a centrifugal bowl to a transport member such as a conveyor belt, in particular for their quality control by image processing.

These tablets are brought by centrifugation from the interior of the bowl to a peripheral circular track 15 on which they are positioned one behind the other as far as an outlet leading to said conveyor belt.

A first problem arises because the tablets are pushed against each other during the climb on the track and can arrive at the exit of the track in various positions, this in a random manner.

The passage from the track to the strip has been carefully studied but the passage remains delicate.

The tablets have more or less simple forms. The problems are less noticeable when dealing with a disc-shaped, symmetrical tablet. On the other hand, oblong, biconvex, highly convex tablets cause problems because they are unstable in very many combined directions.

The very nature of the tablet influences because it can be more or less slippery, this slippage or the induced friction varying with the types of tracks and bands.

A satisfactory solution consists in studying, for each tablet, an interface ramp between the track of the centrifugal bowl and the conveyor belt.

This interface ramp arrives, for a type of tablet, at satisfactory results, by modifying the route, by allowing a descent by sliding while taking into account very many parameters related to each type of tablet. It is therefore necessary to find the best compromise for optimum guidance.

On the other hand, it is understood that the versatility of the installation is reduced since it is necessary to study an interface ramp for each type of tablet and / or it is necessary to replace the interface ramp in service with the adapted interface ramp, this at each change of products. and very precise adjustments must be made, without counting the downtime of the entire control device during these modification operations.

It should be noted that another problem arises at the output of the interface ramp, a problem linked to the spacing of the products between them. Indeed, the products must be spaced from each other to allow automatic visual control by image processing because this is generally the purpose of this sorting but each product must be isolated from the others in order to allow a good analysis of images during checks.

The solution consists in advancing the products leaving the centrifugal bowl at a given speed VI and in sliding the tablets on the interface ramp towards a conveyor belt in translation at a speed V2, V2 being greater than VI but mastering the 'spacing obtained remains delicate due to the various parameters mentioned above.

The object of the present invention is to allow controlled spacing and stability of the products leaving the module according to the invention, whatever the shape, the nature of the induced friction, the possible convexity or the position in which the tablet is located. at the end of the runway.

The present invention provides a transfer and spacing module, interposed between the outlet of a tablet feeding device, in particular a centrifugal distribution bowl and the outlet conveyor belt, without initial mechanical contact, this in order to a check, in particular an optical check.

The module according to the invention provides a transfer and spacing of the tablets between the outlet of a centrifugal bowl track or any other device for aligning tablets, by means of a vacuum belt conveyor, movable in translation at a speed V3 capable of depositing on a belt of an output conveyor whose displacement speed is V2.

The speed V3 of the vacuum conveyor belt of the module according to the invention is substantially equal to the speed V2 of the output conveyor.

The present invention thus makes it possible to solve the problems of controlling the spacing of the products along the axis of movement, by making it possible to vary this spacing on demand, without loss of time, or even during operation.

The module according to the present invention solves a problem linked to manufacturing defects in the tablets which can have significant deformations.

Indeed, the tablets can carry on their surface an outgrowth of the order of a millimeter so that when a tablet has a pronounced defect, when there is no space or means to absorb this outgrowth, this causes a disturbance of the device at the very least, possibly breaking the tablet, or even stopping the sorting device. However, the spacing module is precisely placed upstream of the visual control and of its means for rejecting the tablets having such defects, so that this type of defect must be taken into account in the case of the module according to the invention.

In addition, certain improvements associated with the module according to the present invention make it possible to further improve this control of the spacing and the stability of the tablets. The transfer and spacing module according to the present invention also accommodates all the profiles of tablets, indifferently, without modification of the parts constituting it.

The deposition of the products on the conveyor belt is also a very delicate step which the present invention proposes to solve.

Finally, it is recalled that the visual control of the tablets can be carried out according to the teaching of the patents in the name of the same applicant, by turning the tablets over the conveyor belt, by sliding the tablets on a slotted ramp with cameras arranged to appropriately, which gives very satisfactory results.

The transfer, in the case of the present invention, makes it possible to space the products and to visually control the lower part of them during the transfer, while the upper part is visually controlled on the outlet conveyor belt. Controlling the spacing, the stability and the location of the position of the products is an advantage in the case of the present invention.

A control of this type requires, thanks to the module according to the invention, only a simplified arrangement of cameras, this by increasing the control rate, which is yet another advantage resulting from the architecture of the sorting device according to the present invention.

The transfer and spacing module as well as the sorting module according to the present invention are now described with reference to the appended schematic drawings, drawings in which the different figures represent:

FIG. 1: a side elevation view of the product transfer and spacing module according to the present invention, arranged for example between the exit from the track of a centrifugal bowl and an exit conveyor belt,

FIG. 2A: a detailed cross-sectional view of an arrangement according to the present invention, with a conforming tablet,

FIG. 2B: a detailed cross-sectional view of an arrangement according to the present invention, in operation, in the suction zone and with a tablet having a pronounced defect,

FIGS. 3A to 3C: a detailed view of the steps for moving a product in the sampling phase from the track of the centrifugal bowl,

FIGS. 4A to 4C: a detailed view of the steps for depositing a product in the docking phase on the conveyor belt,

Figure 5: a view of the image processing control device, incorporating a product transfer and spacing module according to the present invention.

In Figure 1, there is shown schematically, a centrifugal bowl 10 provided with an outlet track 12, a transfer and spacing module 14 according to the invention, in side elevation, and a belt conveyor 16 of exit.

The centrifugal bowl 10 includes pharmaceutical tablets. The pharmaceutical tablets were chosen so as to illustrate the present invention in an application for which said transfer and spacing module is particularly dedicated.

The centrifugal bowl 10 comprises, in known manner, tablets C in a bowl which, by centrifugal force, conveys the tablets to the outlet track 12. Some of these tablets may have shape defects, in particular protuberances.

These tablets Ç are transported by the track of the centrifugal bowl retained as means of supply, most of the time without spacing or in some cases with uncontrolled spacing. These tablets are placed on the exit track, and these tablets move at a speed VI.

The transfer and spacing module 14 according to the present invention comprises a frame 15 in which at least one conveyor belt 18, in closed loop, is rotatably mounted between guide pulleys 20, in this case four pulleys 20- 1 to 20-4, one of which, the pulley 20-1, is driving.

The motor 22 for driving the driving pulley 20-1, is provided with means R for adjusting the speed of rotation, so that the linear speed of the at least one band 18 in closed loop can vary.

In FIGS. 2A and 2B, there is shown in detail the conveyor belt 18 in closed loop which consists of two parallel conveyor half-belts 18-1 and 18-2, driven at the same speed by the pulleys described above. front, over which these two half-bands, the inner edges 18-11 and 18-21 of which pass, are disposed juxtaposed, releasing a first longitudinal slot of width el continuous.

The outer edges 18-1E and 18-2E are themselves guided by guide means 24 formed in the frame 15 and more particularly in a shoe 26. These guide means 24, carried by a shoe 26, include two grooves 24 -1 and 24-2, able to receive said outer edges 18-1E and 18-2E of each of the half-bands, respectively. These outer edges 18-1E and 18-2E of each of the half-strips are advantageously provided with an additional thickness 18-3E and 18-4E which cooperate with said grooves 24-1 and 24-2.

In addition, the guide means 24 comprise two angles 24-3 and 24-4 so as to support and guide the outer edges 18-1E and 18-2E of each of the half-strips. These guide means also avoid the twisting of the half-bands.

The guide means 24 further comprise two open recesses 24-5 and 24-6 which originate at right angles to the pulley 20-3 and extend over a length L1.

Each step is arranged in line with each of the inner edges 18-11 and 18-21.

The two open recesses are opposite. The height of each of the open recesses 24-5 and 24-6 remains limited, and is found to be defined as a function of the maximum dimensions of the tablet defects liable to appear in the module according to the invention.

The shoe 26 includes a longitudinal slot of width e2 and length L2. This second slot of width e2 is advantageously arranged in line with the first slot el.

The width of these recesses 24-5 and 24-6 is advantageously greater than the greatest width of the tablets Ç which have to be transferred.

Each of the parallel transport belts, 18-1 and 18-2 has its inner edge 18-11 and 18-21, able to take an infinite number of positions between the initial plane position when stationary and with a compliant tablet up to a position in which each of said inner edges 18-11 and 18-21 can bend in the recess to form a curve as shown in FIG. 2B when a tablet having a defect passes through the module. In FIG. 2A, it has been noticed that a conforming tablet is pressed against the strips, in line with the slot el.

The transfer and spacing module 14 further comprises suction means creating a depression D, not shown, which can take any form, in particular a connection to a vacuum source available at the place of installation or a vacuum pump. associated with the sorting device, this in a perfectly known manner. These suction means are associated with the shoe 26.

These suction means generate a vacuum D, in line with the second slot of width e2 and therefore of the first slot of width el, from the bottom to the top.

The depression D produces suction effects on the length L1 and L2, between the two half-bands, like a channel. The value of this depression is adapted to allow a tablet to be lifted and to keep it pressed against the conveyor belt 18.

To give an example, with a first slot el of 2 mm between the two transport half-bands, parallel, 18-1 and 18-2 and a space 8 of 1 mm between the top of the tablet and said half-bands.

The conveyor belt 16, output, is shown in Figure 1.

The belt 16-1 of this belt conveyor 16 is stretched between two pulleys, in a known manner and not of interest to the present invention, one of the two pulleys 16-1 (not visible) being powered and being able to benefit from a variator linear speed, integrated. The stretched strand is then the upper strand, taking into account the specified direction of rotation, the soft strand being the lower strand. The strip 16-1 is also guided by pads and in particular a pad 30, located between the two pulleys of the strip 16-1, substantially in line with the output guide pulley 20-4 of the transfer and spacing module. 14 in the embodiment shown but which could be distant downstream.

This shoe 30 is raised so as to give the strip a slope P, with an inflection zone 31, in line with said shoe.

There are then 4 zones.

The docking zone Zl which extends from the pulley 16-2 until the distance between the two half-strips and the strip 16-1 of the conveyor 16 becomes less than the height of a conforming tablet. The two bands 16 and 18 are convergent.

The pinching zone Z2 which extends from the end of zone 1 to the point of ascent of the band 18 and the flexibility of the band ensures the pinching. The two bands 16 and 18 are parallel.

The zone Z3 known as to release which extends from the end of zone 2 to the inflection zone 31. The two bands 16 and 18 are divergent.

The zone Z4 called the exit and inspection zone which is located beyond the inflection zone 31. Advantageously, the shoe 26 comprises height adjustment means 26-1, so as to adjust the general distance of the shoe in depending on the dimensions and shapes of the tablet Ç. A predetermined space 8 is provided at the entry so that the conforming tablets come below the strip 18.

In FIGS. 3A to 3C, the details of the steps for taking a tablet Ç have been shown schematically. It is represented only one tablet in order to show the synoptic clearly.

In FIG. 3A, the tablet Ç is on track 12 of the centrifugal bowl and advances at speed VI. The conveyor belt 18 is rotated between the pulleys at a speed V3 and is located at a height 8 from the top of the conforming tablet C.

Depression D is exerted.

The tablet is upstream of zones L1 and L2 and the vacuum D is not exerted, the tablet Ç remains on the track. The two half-bands 18-1 and 18-2 are flat as shown by the magnifying glass which represents the associated cross section.

In FIG. 3B, the tablet Ç advances due to the movement of the track 12. The tablet Ç arrives at the right of the lengths L1 and L2 under vacuum. The tablet Ç is then subjected to the vacuum D which lifts it from the track and presses it against the conveyor belt 18, in line with the first slot of width el.

In the case of a conforming tablet, the two half-strips remain substantially flat, as shown on the magnifying glass in FIG. 3B.

In the case of a tablet having a defect, we find ourselves in the representation of FIG. 2B. The two transport half-bands, and more particularly the inner edges 18II and 18-21, are curved, as shown on the magnifying glass relating to the cross section. The defect of the tablet C is absorbed by said two curved edges.

According to the invention, the desired offset is obtained between the tablets Ç due to the speed differential between VI and V3 during the passage of the track 12 on the conveyor belt 18. It is during this contactless passage that the transfer module according to the invention allows, as an intermediate device, the absorption of the speed differential V1-V2, this in a controlled manner.

The tablet Ç is then moved, held by suction, without any risk of falling, under the conveyor belt 18, at speed V3.

In FIG. 4A, the tablet Ç arrives in the zone Z1, at the end of the length L1 comprising the recesses 24-5 and 24-6, remaining under vacuum and comes into contact with the belt 16-1 of the belt conveyor 16, strip which is at speed V2, substantially equal to V3.

In FIG. 4B, the tablet is in the zone Z2. The zone of length L1 of compensation with the recesses being finished, the two half-bands 18-1 and 18-2 are supported flat against the shoe. Due to the lower height than that of the tablet, said tablet C is pressed by the two half-strips and pinched against the strip 16-1. This strip 16-1 flexes under slight pressure so that the tablet Ç is perfectly maintained with a clamping force between the strip 16-1 and the strip 18.

In this zone Z2, the depression D is interrupted due to the arrival at the end of the length L2 of the second slot of width e2.

The tablet Ç is then only held by mechanical pressing between the conveyor belt 18 and the belt 16-1 of the belt conveyor 16.

In line with zone Z3, the conveyor belt 18 diverges and releases the tablet Ç which rests on the single band 16-1 of the belt conveyor 16, by gravity, but stable because it is the band 18 which leaves the tablet .

In line with the pad 30, the tablet Ç passes over the inflection zone 31 which ensures a gradual change in slope preventing the tablet from peeling off from the strip 16-1 and continues its movement on the strip 16-1, horizontal.

In FIG. 5, the sorting device shown also integrates two optical control devices CN1 and CN2, connected to a computer unit for image processing.

The optical control device CN1 is advantageously placed under the transfer and spacing module 14 and the optical control device CN2 is advantageously placed above the strip 16-1 in the zone Z4. It is also possible to add mirrors if necessary.

The tablet Ç is thus seen from below and from above, successively.

Complementary and known means, not shown, ensure the ejection from the strip 16-1 of the tablets considered to have an unacceptable defect, the non-conforming tablets, for example by blowing.

The transfer and spacing module 14 makes it possible to choose the minimum spacing, between the tablets, applied to all the tablets on the strip 16-1, at the chosen value.

It suffices for this to adjust the speed V3 of the conveyor belt 18 and also to regulate the speed V2 to ensure a displacement at the same speed of the two bands 16-1 and 18.

It is thus possible to have a speed VI of the order of 500 mm / s for leaving the track of the centrifugal bowl and a speed V2 / V3 of the order of 900 mm / s.

In the description above, the device for feeding the transfer and spacing module described is interposed at the outlet of the track of a centrifugal bowl. Nevertheless, there are power supplies comprising wheels fitted with suction on the peripheral zone, capable of transferring tablets and such a power supply is perfectly compatible with the module according to the present invention. The supply device for the transfer and spacing module could also be a vibrating linear rail.

The sorting device with its transfer and spacing module according to the present invention has the advantage of being very compact, which is always appreciable in the industry.

The time lost due to adjustments is extremely limited and the adjustment can even be fine-tuned with the conveyors in service.

Claims (11)

1. Transfer and spacing module (14) of products, in particular pharmaceutical tablets Ç, interposed between a supply of said products having a linear speed VI, in particular a track (12) of a centrifugal bowl (10), and a conveyor belt (16-1) of a belt conveyor (16) moving at a linear speed V2, V2 being greater than VI, characterized in that said transfer and spacing module (14) comprises a shoe ( 26) with a depression D exerted on the products and a conveyor belt (18) of said products subjected to this depression, this conveyor belt (18) being movable in translation at a linear speed V3, the linear speed V3 being substantially equal to V2. 2. module for transferring and spacing products, in particular pharmaceutical tablets Ç, according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport belt (18) of said products comprises two half-bands (18-1, 18-2) , whose inner edges (18-11, 18-21) are juxtaposed, freeing a first longitudinal slot of width el. 3. Module for transferring and spacing products, in particular pharmaceutical tablets_C, according to claim 2, characterized in that each half-strip (18-1, 18-2) comprises guide means (24). 4. Module for transferring and spacing products, in particular pharmaceutical tablets Ç, according to claim 3, characterized in that the guide means (24) comprise two open recesses (24-5, 24-6) intended to receive the inner edges (18-11,18-21) of each half-strip (18-1,18-2). 5. Module for transferring and spacing products, in particular pharmaceutical tablets C, according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the guide means (24) comprise two grooves (24-1, 24-2 ), capable of receiving the outer edges (18-1E, 18-2E) of each of said half-strips provided with an extra thickness (18-3E, 18-4E) cooperating with said grooves (24-1, 24-2) and two angles (24-3, 24-4). 6. module for transferring and spacing products, in particular pharmaceutical tablets Ç, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vacuum D is exerted on the conveyor belt (18) through a second longitudinal slot formed in the shoe (26), of width e2, said slot of width e2 being arranged in line with the slot of width el. 7. module for transferring and spacing products, in particular pharmaceutical tablets Ç, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the belt (16-1) of the belt conveyor (16) comprises a pad (30 ) raised so as to give said strip a slope P and to form an inflection zone (31). 5 8. Module for transferring and spacing products, in particular pharmaceutical tablets C, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a docking zone ZI, a pinching zone Z2, a zone Z3 release and an Z4 exit and inspection zone. 9. module for transferring and spacing products, in particular pharmaceutical tablets 10, according to claim 8, characterized in that, in zone Zl, the conveyor (16) and transport (18) belts are convergent, in zone Z2, the conveyor (16) and conveyor (18) bands are parallel, in zone Z3, the conveyor (16) and conveyor (18) bands are divergent. 10. Module for transferring and spacing products, in particular pharmaceutical tablets, according to claim 8, characterized in that the shoe (26) comprises height adjustment means (26-1) of the shoe (26). 11. Control device for pharmaceutical tablets C, integrating a transfer and spacing module (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an optical control device CN1, connected to a computer unit of 20 image processing, interposed under said transfer and spacing module and an optical control device CN2 at the output of said module above the belt (16-1) of the belt conveyor (16). FSG. (NOT 2/5